What's happening
This bill amends the state constitution to validate pre-1775 British land grants and charters, and authorizes legislative implementation.
Why it matters
Could impact land ownership rights. By validating land grants and charters issued by the British monarchy before the American Revolution, the amendment could affect current and future disputes over property boundaries, titles, and claims that trace back to colonial-era documents.
May strengthen claims for certain organizations. Some longstanding institutions (like towns, churches, or corporations) originally established by royal charter could see their foundational documents more firmly recognized under state law, potentially influencing governance or property holdings.
Gives the legislature new implementation powers. The explicit authorization for the legislature to enact laws to implement this section means New York lawmakers could pass new statutes or regulations to clarify, enforce, or interpret colonial land grants and charters, possibly leading to changes in local governance, land use, or historical preservation cases.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Validate Old Land Grants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to local governments
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to local governments
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Validate Old Land Grants
In Senate Committee · Judiciary · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7321
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 22, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE, PALUMBO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to article 1 of the constitution, in relation to validating certain grants of land and charters made by the king of Great Britain before October 14, 1775 and giving the legislature the authority to enact laws to implement this section
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That article 1 of the constitution be amended by adding a new section 15 to read as follows:
§ 15. Nothing contained in this constitution shall affect any grants of land within this state, before October 14, 1775, made by the king of Great Britain or persons acting under his authority, or his predecessors, or shall annul any charters to bodies politic and corporate. The legislature shall have the authority to enact laws necessary and proper to implement to provisions of this section.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the following amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89029-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.